Dr. David Nabarro:

One of the things I have noticed is that the reaction of healthcare providers at the beginning, when they start to deal with Covid, has been quite absolutist and quite a lot of procedures which might be called routine, though I would not say screening for cancer is routine, have been suspended. In some places even maternity support services, such as antenatal care, have been suspended. I am not talking about Ireland; I am talking more generally. Then, over time, as the professionals have got their routines sorted out, changed their patterns of flow in the hospital, got adequate PPE, managed to get their shift times right and dealt with any possible accidental infection that might occur among those who provide support services, such as porters and cleaners, it has become possible for them to adapt and readjust. I think more and more of this will happen. Therefore, while there might have been in some settings a cessation of screening procedures and even treatment procedures for people with chronic diseases that require ongoing attention, after, say, a month or two, things have settled down and new systems have been developed. I therefore expect that in places where cancer screening has been stopped, there will over time - it will be quite quick - be a sorting out, just as in schools.

There is a lot of questioning about what to do about schools and a lot of uncertainty. I would expect that, gradually and as we get into this, the procedures will be established and things will get better. Anyway, we will be informed by more science. In answer to the question, I do not want to be absolute. I want to say it will come good, it will just take a little bit of time.